The XT Graphene Prestige Pro 2016 update is excellent

racket king

racket king

Banned
I've been hitting with the new XT Graphene Prestige Pro (XT GPP) for the last couple of weeks and I have to say that the update is an definite improvement in terms of the overall feel and solidity of the racket. I'm surprised how much I liked it.

Compared to the first generation GPP - the XT GPP has a "thicker", more solid feel, not dissimilar to the likes of the Babolat Pure Control 98 and Wilson ProStaff 97. It doesn't feel as good as the (brilliant feeling) PS97S but it's more in that direction than the original GPP. Although it's still a polarized stick, it feels more substantial in the middle of the racket than the previous GPP and doesn't feel as hollow when you're not hitting at 80-100%. The feel is slightly deader and less lively than the GPP but I'd trade that for the improved solidity and overall stability. It mirrors the change in feel from Graphene to Graphene XT in the Speed range if anyone's familiar with both generations of that racket. I still wouldn't describe it as plush though.

With this particular sample, it felt like there was a noticeable amount of mass around the 12 o'clock area (and no, I'm not just quoting from the marketing material) which initially caused some timing issues when serving and on my 1BH. I actually thought the swingweight would be around 334/335 as the racket just demolished the ball on groundstrokes, flat serves, smashes etc. It showed a lot more solidity and plow than the GPP. Blocked returns of serve were good (unlike my GPP which tended to flutter on off center hits) and overall, the XT just felt more solid overall compared to the GPP. In comparison, the GPP felt faster and lighter in the tip though, but not as solid or as stable when hitting off center.

The XT GPP felt firmer than the GPP I have, though that could possibly explained by the higher RA. By coincidence, the XT GPP that I was using had virtually the same RDC specs (apart from flex) as my GPP.

GPP (First Generation Graphene) strung/OG'd RDC specs
- 336g weight
- 323mm balance
- 328 swingweight (ranges from around 323 to 334 in various samples I've seen)
- 63RA flex (ranges from around 63RA to 66RA in various samples I've seen)

XT GPP (Second Generation Graphene) strung/OG'd RDC specs
- 335g weight
- 322mm balance
- 329 swingweight
- 65RA flex

I don't know if those specs (and tip orientated weighting) of this particular sample of the XT is representative of the range, but I've got another sample of the XT coming in next week, so I will be able to compare it to that and it will give me a better sense of where the RDC spec range lies. If the sample that comes in isn't wildly different, the XT revision will have been good update to the range. The feel still isn't as good as the Pro Staff 97S (one of the best feeling modern rackets) but it is more stable and solid feeling that the previous GPP.

[Edit: RDC unstrung specs of a couple of more samples]

XT GPP - Sample 2
- 311g weight (317g with OG, 334g strung with OG + damp)
- 315mm balance (311mm with OG, 320mm strung with OG + damp)
- 295 swingweight (325 strung)
- 64RA flex (63RA strung)

XT GPP - Sample 3
- 316.5g weight
- 317mm balance
- 299 swingweight
- 65RA flex

Miscellaneous weights
- 'Leaf shaped' card 1g, 'Key' shaped card 1g, Elastic 'strings' for cardboard x 4 (0.8g), Plastic on handle 2.5g, 'Cilic face' cardboard piece 15g

Another batch. Some hefty samples out there.

XT GPP - Sample 4
- 320g weight
-----mm balance
- 304 swingweight
- 65RA flex

XT GPP - Sample 5
- 318g weight
------mm balance
- 309 swingweight
- 63RA flex

XT GPP - Sample 6
- 322g weight
------mm balance
- 305 swingweight
- 67RA flex

XT GPP - Sample 7 (strung specs)
- 332g weight
- 325mm balance
- 330 swingweight
- 64RA flex
 
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Thanks for the review.
I feel like I'm asking the same question over and over but... does it still vibrates and makes that god awful sound like the GPP?
 
Tangi said:
Still an awful mold...

I want people's reviews on the XT MP!
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TennisHound said:
The mold seems fine, the layup is what is messed up IMO.
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Awful mold, I agree ;)
Mouldy_Clementine.jpg


More seriously, it's not a Prestige mould, definitely not the mould I'd expect for the Prestige Pro! Otherwise I wouldn't really have a problem with it.

The various amounts of different feedback on this racquet does not make me hopeful regarding the consistency of playability though.
 
AMGF said:
Thanks for the review.
I feel like I'm asking the same question over and over but... does it still vibrates and makes that god awful sound like the GPP?
Click to expand...

All rackets vibrate. Even a RF97A vibrates....

But I think know what you're getting at. In my view, it doesn't have the same flexy wobbliness as the first generation graphene had when hitting off center. Most of the time, it plays thicker and solid. You can feel a very slight harshness in feedback coming back through the frame if you absolutely pound the ball at 100% but hit slightly off center but I'd say most of the time it's not there.

Awful sound? Not aware of any the GPPs making awful sounds and I've hit with a lot of them. If you're talking about a 'ping' sound from a poly stringbed, alot of polys make that sound in a lot of different rackets if you're playing without a dampener.
 
For some odd reason, whenever I hear the word Graphene, I'm reminded of this song:


I would like to redo this one, only with shouting 'Graphene! Graphene!' instead of Jolene :D

Graphene! Graphene! I'm begging you, please don't take my man... :eek: ;) :p :D
 
Zoolander said:
My thought too, i was hanging for the review score. 12/10 stars? 14/10??

No need to be tight here racket king, we're use to grandiose hyperbole in reviews. Give it all you got!
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I genuinely think it's a good racket. Obviously, not for the Pure Drive crowd but this will be appeal to someone looking for a precise hitting, control orientated stick that isn't devoid of backbone. Need to get hold of a second sample to try out though to make sure everything is what it should be but so far, I prefer this to the Blade 98 16x19 and Pure Strike 98 16x19 which I'd put the same class of stick.

SpinToWin said:
It's the Prestige S mould rather than the actual Prestige mould.
Click to expand...

But what does that mean though? 22mm beam v 21mm beam?
 
racket king said:
I genuinely think it's a good racket. Obviously, not for the Pure Drive crowd but this will be appeal to someone looking for a precise hitting, control orientated stick that isn't devoid of backbone. Need to get hold of a second sample to try out though to make sure everything is what it should be but so far, I prefer this to the Blade 98 16x19 and Pure Strike 98 16x19 which I'd put the same class of stick.



But what does that mean though? 22mm beam v 21mm beam?
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22mm beam as well as the strange V throat. Very different construction. @vsbabolat could say if there's anything else I'm missing.
 
Does that mean we can expect in the future a 25 mm beam Prestige (68 RA), which still allows you to hit a good ball?
 
racket king said:
But in the real world, what's the difference in actual playing terms? The XT GPP allows you to hit a good ball.
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Not saying it doesn't, but it's not a Prestige mould and it certainly doesn't play that way.

It's nonsensical to have both the S and Pro really.

The older mould had a more connected feel and better control. It was a Prestige. This isn't.
 
SpinToWin said:
Not saying it doesn't, but it's not a Prestige mould and it certainly doesn't play that way.

It's nonsensical to have both the S and Pro really.

The older mould had a more connected feel and better control. It was a Prestige. This isn't.
Click to expand...

That's really starting to get into the realms of subjectivity as the layup is different, the overall weight is much lighter and the weight distribution across the entire racket is different so you can't say that it's all down to the mold. Weight the GPP up to same weight as old Prestige Pro and you have a rock solid playing stick with a connected feel and control.
 
racket king said:
That's really starting to get into the realms of subjectivity as the layup is different, the overall weight is much lighter and the weight distribution across the entire racket is different so you can't say that it's all down to the mold. Weight the GPP up to same weight as old Prestige Pro and you have a rock solid playing stick with a connected feel and control.
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Of course, changing the mould has 0 adverse effects. The only reason they didn't change the Prestige MP mould is… Well…

I am not is saying its a crap racquet in its own regard, but it no longer is the Prestige it was. Plain and simple.
 
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Arguably the Pro and the S have more in common than the MP and Pro, so it makes sense to use the same mold for these two, leaving the MP to the purist. The shame i think would be if Head dropped the MP as that would leave a gap. For those preferring a different result the Pro and S are there, and you can choose between them based on spec preferences. I'm not sure it's a given that the democratisation of the Prestige line is a bad thing, provided the MP is held in place for those who seek that spec. That said, I realise that there is no zeal greater than the zeal of a Prestige traditionalist so i expect to be ridiculed...
 
racket king said:
All rackets vibrate. Even a RF97A vibrates....

But I think know what you're getting at. In my view, it doesn't have the same flexy wobbliness as the first generation graphene had when hitting off center. Most of the time, it plays thicker and solid. You can feel a very slight harshness in feedback coming back through the frame if you absolutely pound the ball at 100% but hit slightly off center but I'd say most of the time it's not there.

Awful sound? Not aware of any the GPPs making awful sounds and I've hit with a lot of them. If you're talking about a 'ping' sound from a poly stringbed, alot of polys make that sound in a lot of different rackets if you're playing without a dampener.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your answer.

The GPP (at least mine (3)) makes a very specific sound. Higher pitched. I don't know why you never noticed that. I know it's been reported by many here on TT. I don't know if it's the CAP grommets or the Graphene or something else. Anyhow, good thing if the new one doesn't have this "kwinnxx" sound. :)
 
AMGF said:
Thanks for the review.
I feel like I'm asking the same question over and over but... does it still vibrates and makes that god awful sound like the GPP?
Click to expand...
I will address this in my review. I too found the Graphene racquets to have that god awful sound. We will see if the XT have it.
 
AMGF said:
Thanks for your answer.

The GPP (at least mine (3)) makes a very specific sound. Higher pitched. I don't know why you never noticed that. I know it's been reported by many here on TT. I don't know if it's the CAP grommets or the Graphene or something else. Anyhow, good thing if the new one doesn't have this "kwinnxx" sound. :)
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I just looked at my GPPs last night and wondered, do they really sound that awful (as I have the same experience as you). Did the bounce test and yep....the high pitched twing is there. But if the GXTPP is more muted, I may just pick up one or two to keep in the bag. Especially when I play on clay. The pop is really handy.
 
I find the high pitched twing goes away using a rubber band dampener. I know this may be stating the obvious, but the main thing the dampener does is make the sound of some racquets (and poly strings) more acceptable. With a graphene frame and poly strings you have the perfect sound storm. So grab the postman and get a rubber band off him. Nil cost solution!
 
sma1001 said:
I find the high pitched twing goes away using a rubber band dampener. I know this may be stating the obvious, but the main thing the dampener does is make the sound of some racquets (and poly strings) more acceptable. With a graphene frame and poly strings you have the perfect sound storm. So grab the postman and get a rubber band off him. Nil cost solution!
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Good point. I use rubber bands on all my sticks. doesn't seem to help with the gpp though. I even have silicone in the handle. Booo...
 
teekaywhy said:
Good point. I use rubber bands on all my sticks. doesn't seem to help with the gpp though. I even have silicone in the handle. Booo...
Click to expand...

Doesn't help? That would be a deal breaker for me. I know we all talk about "feel" but it's a bit like taste being influenced by smell - feel is influenced by the sound off the stringbed. And some sounds are just not palatable and make me feel like every shot is a mis-hit - usually poly's and especially shaped ones. But some frames - graphene ones in particular - make that worse. Couldn't live with that.

PS: too close to the sound of the dentist's drill...
 
teekaywhy said:
Good point. I use rubber bands on all my sticks. doesn't seem to help with the gpp though. I even have silicone in the handle. Booo...
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The vibration and ping was so bad in the Graphene I could not use them. I just got the GXT Prestige MP, GXT Prestige Pro, and the Prestige Rev Pro. I will talk about if the feel is improved.
 
SpinToWin said:
Not saying it doesn't, but it's not a Prestige mould and it certainly doesn't play that way.

It's nonsensical to have both the S and Pro really.

The older mould had a more connected feel and better control. It was a Prestige. This isn't.
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Some of you are really stubborn :) They were, they are, and they will be Prestiges with old or new moulds, because things are changing ...
PS: I like driving my BMW 2002, but still prefer to drive the latest series 3, although the new one has completely different driving characteristics :D
 
tribesmen said:
Some of you are really stubborn :) They were, they are, and they will be Prestiges with old or new moulds, because things are changing ...
PS: I like driving my BMW 2002, but still prefer to drive the latest series 3, although the new one has completely different driving characteristics :D
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No, the new Prestige has been turned in the Radical. It's New Coke verses Classic Coke.
 
now hang on a minute ... if the prestige pro has been turned into the radical, why all the complaints that you can't get the old radical anymore?
 
n8dawg6 said:
now hang on a minute ... if the prestige pro has been turned into the radical, why all the complaints that you can't get the old radical anymore?
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Which Radical are we talking about? I'm saying it the Pro and S are more Radical than Prestige. But they are newly developed molds that could have been called anything. However in beam width and weight they are more Radical than Prestige.
 
thats what im asking, which radical are we talking about? if theyre like the pre-graphene radicals, great. but theyre not the graphene or XT radicals. so how are they radicals, if they arent radicals? is "radical" just an obtuse racquet theory?
 
The amount of Prestige Pro's and S' (fake prestiges) is too damn high...

No disrespect, but if you can't yield the MP or the old MID, please do not use prestige...
 
In what regard? I need the lighter weight in order to beef up the frame and swingweight with lead tape, plus I prefer a 16x19 pattern...my experience with Head graphene XT stock frames is basically static weight is the key variable for the most part in the prestige line. I prefer a 12 oz stick but with the pro their is minimal room once strung etc... to add much lead tape. IMHO
 
Out of curiousity, why does using a 18x20 stock frame that weighs 12 oz make it a better stick than the S or Pro? Obviously, to each their own but it seems to be the same stick outside of static weight (albeit they are close) and string pattern...I am glad Head caters to a variety of players that enjoy the Prestige Model and offer a couple different setups so better players can play this model...
 
Chris92009 said:
In what regard? I need the lighter weight in order to beef up the frame and swingweight with lead tape, plus I prefer a 16x19 pattern...my experience with Head graphene XT stock frames is basically static weight is the key variable for the most part in the prestige line.
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If that is what you're looking for, you can find it in the radical line so there is no need for Head to make the same for the prestige.

Chris92009 said:
Out of curiousity, why does using a 18x20 stock frame that weighs 12 oz make it a better stick than the S or Pro?
Click to expand...

Never said it made it better. It's just not a prestige. Prestige = classic feel and 18x20. If one doesn't like that, he can go radical or speed, but why ask Head to change prestige to more 'tweener' specs just cause the wider public wants to have prestige printed on their racquet... Head prestige is becoming like all the 'catch-all' political parties you see today. It changes its core values just to please everyone and get more votes... doesn't make sense to me.
 
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